“Oh gosh, he makes me want to be a better person,” the 23-year-old country singer tells me. “He’s the good one in the relationship. I’m crazy. Crazy and crazy don’t go together. One of you’s gotta be sane.”

Do they double-date with her BFF Taylor Swift?

“We’ve not seen each other since the tour ended,” she says. “She’s been on the road and touring, and she’s been working a lot and I’ve been here and I’ve had my own shows. We haven’t ran into each other since the tour ended actually.”

For the holidays, she has a spectacular wish.

“To fly away,” she tells me. “I want to go to the moon.”

How will Ellen DeGeneres fare as a judge on American Idol?

“I think she is going to be great,” she says. “I think it’ll be refreshing to have her on the show because it will bring a different light and a whole new demeanor to the show. A whole new personality and character to the show. Ellen, I think, represents the average American. She represents the fans, and she loves music, so I think she’ll be incredible.”

But against Simon?

“Oh, she can take him. He’d better watch out ‘cause she’d get him.”

Appearing on American Idol has been the highlight of Kellie’s life.

“Since American Idol, just being able to do what I love. Every day I get to go to a job that I’m in love with, and I love the fans. They’ve been so good to me, and enabled me to do what I’m passionate about. I love touring. I love being on the road. I’ve had a chance to meet several of my idols – people who have influenced me in this industry, so that’s really neat and cool.”